Flytrap



WITNESS:

W. 1. LEE.

FLYTRAP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, I919.

Patented May 18,1920;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

TTED STATES PATNT OFFIGE,

WILLIAM J'. LEE, OF EUGE1\TE, OREGON.

Application filed August 18, 1919.

To all "whom it may concern Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM J. LEE, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-

sidin at Eugene, in the county of Lane, and r state of Oregon, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Flytraps, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to insect traps, particularly to devices forcatching flies, and has for its object the provision of a trap adaptedfor detachable engagement upon a window screen or screen door at theupper portion thereof and so arranged. that flies working their way upthe screen will enter the device and be trapped therein, the devicebeing quickly and easily removable from the door or window screenwhereby to facilitate the killing of the flies trapped therein, and aportion of the device being detachable or removable whereby to permitthe ready removal of the dead flies.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character whichis provided with novel means whereby it may be quickly and easilyengaged upon the door or window screen. 2

Another object is the provision of spring catches holding the removableportion -of the device.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this characterwhich will be very simple and inexpensive in manufacture and1nstallation,-highly eflicient m use, durable in service, and a generalimprovement in the art.

1th the above and other ObjGCtS and advantages 1n vlew, the inventionconslsts 1n the details of construction to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in, the accompanying drawings inwhich Figure 1 .is an elevation of a screen showing my device appliedthereto,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the means for holding my device upona screen and also showing the means for holding the removable portion ofthe device in position,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing my device detached from the screenand the removable portion disengaged from the main portion, and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4 1 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates ascreen which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1920.

Serial No. 318,173.

may be a window screen or a screen door and which includes the usualframe B.

In carrying out my invention I provide a receptacle formed as a casing10 of substan tially rectangular form and having its ends 11 formed ofsheet metal and its back and front walls 12 and 13 formed of wirescreen. At the upper edge of its back wall the device is provided with atransverse strip 1 1 of sheet metal connecting the ends and at thebottom edge of the back wall is provided a similar strip 15. The upperpart of the front wall 12 is curved and the lower edge of the front wallis secured to a horizontally disposed strip 16 forming a portion of thebottom of the device. The strip 16 is comparatively narrow with respectto the thickness of the entire device so as to provide an opening 17, inthe bottom and the rear edge of the bottom strip 16 has formed thereon aright angularly downwardly extending flange 18 cooperating with flanges19 formed at the lower edges of the end walls 11 and also cooperatingwith the strip 15 at the bottom edge of the back wall. This portion ofthe device constitutes the cage. The ends of the upper strip 14 areoffset forwardly, as shown at 20, and are then reflexly bent rearwardlyand then laterally to provide lugs 21, for a purpose to be described.

Detachably associated with this cage portion of the device is a trappingmember formed as a rectangular frame 22 formed of strips 23 and 24properly secured together. as shown. The ends of the strip 23 are offsetforwardly, as shown at 25. and are then reflexly bent rearwardly andlaterally to provide lugs 26 similar to the lugs 21, for a purpose to bedescribed. Secured to the ends 27 of the strip 24 and offset slightlyinwardly with respect thereto are upwardly extending triangular plates28.

. Secured to the lower portions of the strips bottom of the cage, theframe 22 engaging exteriorly upon the flanges 18 and 19 and the bottomstrip 15 at the back of the cage. This trapping member is held in thisposition by means of leaf spring catches 31 which are secured at one endupon the lower portions of the end walls 11 and which are provided withinwardly extending angular portions 32 engaging beneath the bottom edgesof the ends of the strip 2 1.

In order that the device may be detachably mounted upon the screen A,the frame B of the screen has secured thereon a plu-' rality offorwardly oflset brackets 33 within which are engageable the lugs 21 and26 formed on the device, the engagement of the lugs within the bracketsbeing effected by positioning the device against the screen with thelugs above the brackets and then sliding the device downwardly.

When the device is thus positioned upon the screen, as shown in thedrawings, flies lighting upon the screen will naturally work their wayupwardly, as is well known. When the flies reach the device they willpass through the open bottom of the frame 22 and into the trappingmember 29, whence they will pass through the holes into the cage 10.After a large number of flies has collected within the cage the operatormay move the cage upwardly with respect to the screen to disengage thelugs 21 and 26 from the brackets 33 so that the device may be removedfrom the screen. Hot water is then poured on the cage 10 or the cage isthrown into water to kill the flies therein. After the flies are deadthe operator presses the spring cages 31 outwardly and removes the frame22 from engagement with the cage, after which the dead flies are dumpedout. The device may then be reassembled and be replaced upon the screen,as above described, ready for further use.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right tomake such changes in. the form, construction, and arrangement of partsas will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A device of. thecharacter described comprising a cage member, a trapping memtending fromthe sides of said cage member, a trapping member detachably engaged uponthe bottom of said cage member and including a screen portion extendingup wardly into said cage member, means for securing said trapping memberto said cage member, lugs extending laterally from said trapping member,and brackets adapted to be secured upon a screen frame and engageable bysaid lugs whereby to hold the device upon the screen, engagement of saidlugs within said brackets being effected by downward sliding movement ofthe device with respect to the screen.

3. A device of the character described comprising a cage member formedof a casing having solid end walls, a solid bottom provided with anopening, transverse strips connecting said end walls at the top andbottom portions thereof, the front and back walls of said casing beingformed of wire screen and the front wall being curved at its upper endto merge into the back wall, flanges extending downwardly at the side ofthe opening in the bottom wall, a trapping member formed of arectangular frame engaging cxteriorly 'upon said flanges and includingan upwardly tapering portion formed of wire screen extending throughsaid opening and into said cage member, the highest point of said screenportion of said trapping member being provided with a series of holes,and spring members so cured upon the end walls of said cage member andprovided at their lower ends with inwardly extending shoulders engagingbeneath the lower edges of the end portions of the frame of saidtrapping member for holding said trapping member associated with saidcage member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM J. LEE.

